Improvement in processes of coloring photographs



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

SUSAN M. II. PEXNINGTON, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES 0F COLORING PHOTOGRAPHS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 205,807, dated July 9, 1878; application filed May 3, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SUSAN M. H. PENNING- TON, of Evansville, in the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Process of Coloring Photographs and Engravings, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to a novel process of coloring photographs and other pictures; and it consists in clearing the picture by saturatin g it with a varnish or clearing solution, and afterward painting it with oil-colors or watercolors.

In carrying out my invention, Ifirst prepare a varnish by saturating turpentine with 00111- mon white rosin, which is selected for clearness, and to facilitate the process I pulverize the rosin and shake or stir the solution from time to time as the rosin is added. WVhen the turpentine has cut as much of the rosin as it will contain I allow it to settle and pour oil the clear varnish, which I will call solution N o. 1. I then saturate turpentine with uncolored paraffine, which is scraped in thin shavings. hen this mixture, after frequent shaking, remains very milky or cloudy 1 consider it finished. This mixture I call solution A. To one part, by measure, of solution A, I add three parts of turpentine and shake them well. If, after settling, the solution does not become clear I cautiously add enough turpentine to clear it. This mixture I call solution N 0. 2. I now prepare a clearing solution by mixing three parts, by measure, of solution No. 1 with one part of solution No. 2.

Although Ihavementioned turpentine as a solvent for the resins or gums I do not confine myself to that alone, asI may use ether, chloroform, or any of the light hydrocarbons.

To prepare the varnish used in preparing and finishing the photographs, I saturate alcohol with powdered rosin, and allow it to settle. I then add alcohol fenough to make the varnish dry quickly. To test the varnish I apply a little of it from time to time to bits of prepared paper until it acquires the required thinness.

To prepare a drier, I dissolve powdered rosin in a light hydrocarbon, and until it holds just enough rosin to dry quickly on paper. I place the clearing solution in a large widemouth jar, and drop into it the photographs or other pictures, which are allowed to remain until they become transparent, and they may remain longer without injury.

Then the pictures become cleared I remove them from the clearing solution and scrape off the superfluous solution by drawing the paper between two perfectly straight smooth edges of ivory, card-board, or other suitable material, and allow it to become partly dry, so that it becomes sticky, when I apply to its face with a soft camels-hair brush well filled with varnish a coat of the varnish above described, and with another brush I coat the back of the picture with a thin coating of the clearing solution. I now allow the picture to dry in a warm room, but not before the fire.

After the picture becomes dry it may be kept for any length of time in this condition, as it does not lose its transparency, and be comes more seasoned and in a better state to handle, and, should it be disposed to curl up, a card may be placed in the roll to prevent the surfaces from coming together.

The picture must always be handled by its edges.

When the picture is painted it is laid face downward on a glass, the glass being laid upon or near a white surface, so that the light will be reflected through the picture.

Common oil-colors are applied to the back of the picture in the usual way, and, if it is desired to hasten the drying of the colors, soft pastels or crayons of appropriate colors may be pulverized or scraped and dusted over the oilcolors or the crayons, or powdered white lead, or zinc-white, or even prepared chalk may be mixed with the colors before they are applied to the picture. To further facilitate the drying the brush may be frequently dipped in the drier.

When the pictures are too large to be read ily cleared in a jar the clearing solution may be applied with a brush.

Pictures may be cleared by applying a hot mixture of paraffine and rosin to the back of the picture. The picture may be mounted by employing a paste composed of soluble glass and prepared chalk.

The advantages claimed for my improved process are, that the work may be expeditiously tine, and then applying to the face a coat of resin dissolved in alcohol, and to the back a coat of the clearing solution, substantially as set forth.

SUSAN M. II. PENNINGTON.

\Vitnesses:

T. U. BRIDWELL, CHARLES LAVUE. 

